Canon T1i won’t automatically focus

[TCampbell]

I have tried that. I’ve basically tried everything, just think it’s time to upgrade!!

If it's the camera, the T1i body is too old to be worthwhile upgrading (it may actually be too old for Canon to still stock parts).

Though there are lots of choices, Canon does sell "refurbished" bodies on their own website and these tend to be about the best prices you can find considering they come with the same warranty as a "new" camera and usually beat anybody's sale prices (I think just once I found an exception). As you price shop, go to the Canon website, check their store section, and look for the refurbished section in the store. BTW, as these are refurbished, the supply comes and goes ... so what you want may not necessarily be in stock (but it's certainly worth checking).

The latest in the Rebel series is the T7i and it's counterpart is the 77D (they are nearly identical w.r.t. capabilities and performance, sensor, etc. but the 77D has a 2nd control dial (located on the back of the body) and an LCD display on the top of the camera body. Basically it's controls are positioned a bit more like the mid-range and pro bodies).

I will say the T7I & 77D are quite a substantial upgrade. Each year Canon releases a newer Rebel body with is an incremental improvement over the prior year's body. This year, however, they changed more than I've seen them change in quite a long time. The sensor is new and significantly improved. The focus system is new and basically is the first of the Rebels to get the focus system that works much more like the mid-range and high-end bodies.

On a budget... the Rebel SL2 is probably one of the better bargains because it got the same sensor and capabilities as the T7i & 77D... but it doesn't have the same focus system.

And of course if you're not on a budget... there are loads more options.

 

[sniper x]

Try this simple test. Look thru the menu, look to see if someone changed it to back button focus. I did this on my T1i and all my DSLR's and a lot of owners do.

here is how to set the T1i to BBF. but it is also a way to check to see if someone did it already thereby disallowing your shutter release from making the focus work.

If you've got a EOS Rebel (T1i, T2i, T3i, T4i, T5i), the menu you're looking for is under the third wrench icon, under Custom Functions.

The function you'd like to change is:

C.FnIV: Operation/Others [9]
Shutter/AE Lock Button

Change the setting to 3: AE/AF, no AE lock.

Voila.